Research and Development of High Efficiency Lightweight Solar Concentrators Interim Summary Report, 1 Nov. 1961 - 31 Mar. 1962

High efficiency lightweight solar concentrator development - backing, support structures, material electroforming, and toolin

Research and development techniques for fabrication of lightweight solar concentrators addendum report

Fabrication of copper and nickel solar concentrator

Magnetic Response of Magnetospirillum Gryphiswaldense

In this study we modelled and measured the U-turn trajectories of individual magnetotactic bacteria under the application of rotating magnetic fields, ranging in ampitude from 1 to 12 mT. The model is based on the balance between rotational drag and magnetic torque. For accurate verification of this model, bacteria were observed inside 5 m tall microfluidic channels, so that they remained in focus during the entire trajectory. From the analysis of hundreds of trajectories and accurate measurements of bacteria and magnetosome chain dimensions, we confirmed that the model is correct within measurement error. The resulting average rate of rotation of Magnetospirillum Gryphiswaldense is 0.74 +- 0.03 rad/mTs.Comment: 17 pages, 12 figure

Planar manipulation of magneto-tactic bacteria using unidirectional magnetic fields

We show for the first time that an alternating unidirectional magnetic field generated by a magnetic erase head allows planar manipulation of magneto-tactic bacteria (MTB), and is not restricted to parallel directions only. We used squared-shaped magnetic fields of approximately 4 mT while sweeping from 0.25 to 10 Hz, and found that at frequencies of over 3 Hz the mean orthogonal velocity becomes constant. The erase head offers a significant reduction in size and complexity over conventional manipulators

Abordagem da hipertrigliceridemia severa na gravidez: a propósito de um caso clínico

RESUMO Durante a gravidez o metabolismo lipídico é afectado pelas hormonas placentárias de modo a assegurar um adequado aporte nutricional para o feto, constatando-se um aumento fisiológico dos níveis de triglicerídeos (TG), em particular no terceiro trimestre. Se o aumento do valor dos triglicerídeos for superior ao esperado na gravidez a paciente deve ser cuidadosamente monitorizada. A principal complicação da hipertrigliceridemia severa é a pancreatite aguda que está associada a uma mortalidade materno-fetal elevada (20%). Os autores apresentam o caso de uma mulher de 31 anos, com gestação de 34 semanas e hipertrigliceridemia severa (TG=1127 mg/dl). Foi internada e submetida a dieta pobre em gorduras, suplementos de ácidos gordos ómega 3 e a apertada vigilância clínica e analítica. O parto decorreu às 37 semanas de gestação sem complicações. O recém-nascido, do sexo feminino, pesava 3220 g e o score Apgar era de 9 ao primeiro minuto. Após o parto os níveis de TG maternos mostraram uma redução marcada. Este caso ilustra a importância do diagnóstico precoce e da instituição de medidas estratégicas relativamente simples na prevenção de pancreatite aguda em grávidas com hipertrigliceridemia severa

The Merluza Graben: How a failed spreading center influenced margin structure, and salt deposition and tectonics in the Santos Basin, Brazil

The relative timing between crustal extension and salt deposition can vary spatially along passive margin salt basins as continents unzip, or as the locus of extension shifts toward the embryonic ocean spreading center. Determining the relative timing of salt deposition, rifting, and seafloor spreading is often problematic due to the diachronous nature of rifting, the ability of salt to fill pre-existing topography, and the subsequent flow and deformation of that salt. We here use 2D PSDM seismic data and structural restorations to investigate the Merluza Graben, a large rift-related depocentre located in the southern, most proximal part of the Santos Basin, Brazil, along-strike of a failed spreading center, the Abimael Ridge. The graben is defined by up to 3.5km of base-salt relief along its basinward-bounding fault and internal base-salt horsts that are up to 1km high. This compartmentalizes deformation, producing intra-graben extensional and contraction salt structures, ramp-syncline basins, and expulsion rollovers, resulting in a remarkably different salt-tectonic structural style to that seen in the adjacent areas. We also conduct structural restorations to analyze the spatial and temporal evolution of salt-tectonic structural styles and the relationship this has to potential prolonged crustal extension in the Merluza Graben. This approach further constrains local variations in the relative timing of rifting and salt deposition, and the impact this has on salt tectonics along the margin. The results of our study can be applied to better understand the tectono-stratigraphic development of other salt-bearing rifted margins

Physical modelling of the interplay between salt-detached gravity gliding and spreading across complex rift topography, Santos Basin, offshore Brazil

The Santos Basin, offshore Brazil contains a complex set of salt-tectonic structures, the origins of which are debated, that is, the Albian Gap and the São Paulo Plateau (SPP). The Albian Gap is a ca. 450 km long, 60 km wide feature characterized by a post-Albian, counter-regional rollover overlying depleted Aptian salt, and in which the Albian is largely absent. The SPP, located immediately downdip, is defined by a pre-salt structural high overlain by ca. 2.5 km thick salt. Another prominent feature is the Merluza Graben, a rift-related depocentre that underlies the southern portion of the Albian Gap and displays significant (3-4 km) base-salt relief along its main faults. Two competing hypotheses have been proposed to explain the kinematics of these provinces. One invokes post-Albian extension in the Albian Gap and kinematically-linked contraction in the SPP. The other invokes post-Albian salt expulsion in the Albian Gap and salt inflation in the SPP. Recent studies, however, suggest these processes likely alternate in time and space, contributing nearly equally to the evolution of these domains. We apply 3D physical modelling to (i) test this hypothesis; and (ii) to more generally understand how gravity gliding and spreading over three-dimensionally variable base-salt relief control regional salt tectonics. The results show a similar salt-related evolution and structural styles to those proposed in the most recent studies. They also (i) explain the origin of the ca. 25 km wide diapir precursor of the Albian Gap by early salt inflation against base-salt steps; (ii) show that normal faults with different polarities and rollover types form due to the interplay between gliding and spreading over different base-salt domains and (iii) provide a mechanism for the origin of strata encased within salt structures. This improves our understanding of the distribution and origin of salt-related structural styles in worldwide salt basins

Biological Soil Crusts as Modern Analogues for the Archean Continental Biosphere: Insights from Carbon and Nitrogen Isotopes

Stable isotope signatures of elements related to life such as carbon and nitrogen can be powerful biomarkers that provide key information on the biological origin of organic remains and their paleoenvironments. Marked advances have been achieved in the last decade in our understanding of the coupled evolution of biological carbon and nitrogen cycling and the chemical evolution of the early Earth thanks, in part, to isotopic signatures preserved in fossilized microbial mats and organic matter of marine origin. However, the geologic record of the early continental biosphere, as well as its evolution and biosignatures, is still poorly constrained. Following a recent report of direct fossil evidence of life on land at 3.22 Ga, we compare here the carbon and nitrogen isotopic signals of this continental Archean biosphere with biosignatures of cyanobacteria biological soil crusts (cyanoBSCs) colonizing modern arid environments. We report the first extended δ13C and δ15N data set from modern cyanoBSCs and show that these modern communities harbor specific isotopic biosignatures that compare well with continental Archean organic remains. We therefore suggest that cyanoBSCs are likely relevant analogues for the earliest continental ecosystems. As such, they can provide key information on the timing, extent, and possibly mechanism of colonization of the early Earth's emergent landmasses